Congress Initiates Seat-Sharing Talks with Bihar Allies for Lok Sabha Polls

New Delhi: On Sunday, the Congress officially commenced discussions on seat-sharing with its Bihar allies, the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), setting the stage for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The primary objective of these talks is to forge a "reasonable and respectable" arrangement, uniting the three parties to collectively take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as reported by insiders.

The Congress's National Alliance Committee (NAC), led by senior figure Mukul Wasnik, kickstarted the seat-sharing negotiations with authorized leaders of JD(U) and RJD in New Delhi. This development follows extensive internal deliberations within the party, according to Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) leaders.

Armed with electoral data, insights into party workers' aspirations, and considerations for winnability factors for each constituency, the NAC is prepared to compromise, but not at the expense of sacrificing core principles, as per a senior AICC leader familiar with the developments.

The first round of talks, held at the AICC office in Delhi, concluded on a positive note, with optimism that an agreeable solution will emerge. JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha and RJD leader Manoj Jha participated in these initial discussions.

Manoj Jha expressed confidence, stating, "All is well. The talks were positive," as leaders of the grand alliance in Bihar hinted at a probable allocation of 17 seats each for JD(U) and RJD out of the state's 40 Lok Sabha seats. Congress is expected to secure five seats, while the Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) Liberation may contest one seat.

The Congress aims to finalize seat-sharing arrangements with other opposition parties in the INDIA bloc nationwide by the end of the month.

Despite the challenges, including the prospect of relinquishing some seats, the Congress is determined to present a united front against the BJP. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA secured 39 of Bihar's 40 seats, with the BJP winning all 17 seats it contested.

Emphasizing the party's commitment to its workers, the AICC leader noted, "The Congress won't be willing to let the party workers down," signaling the party's resolve to counter the BJP across the country. As discussions continue, Bihar Congress leaders are optimistic about securing an "honorable deal" that adequately represents the diverse sections of society, with expectations set at no less than six or seven seats.